Remote control unit with visual display device for cameras and video recorders

Abstract

An image recording system that includes an image recorder and a remote control unit is provided. The image recorder includes an image storage device for recording one or more images, and a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits image information and receives control instructions. The remote control unit may be detachable from the recorder and include a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives image information and transmits the control instructions, and an image display device that displays the image information. The image storage device can be for recording either still images or moving images, but may be capable of recording both. Methods for use with the image recording system are also provided.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An image recording system, said system comprising: 
 an image recorder comprising: 
 an image storage device for recording an image, and  
 a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits image information and receives control instructions; and  
   a remote control unit comprising: 
 a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives image information and transmits said control instructions, and  
 an image display device that displays said image information.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image storage device can store an image selected from a group consisting of a still image, a moving image, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image information roughly corresponds to said image.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said image recorder further comprises: 
 a first optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image; and  
 a second optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image information.  
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image information accurately corresponds to said image.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said image recorder further comprises: 
 a first optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image;  
 a beam splitter that divides said light into at least a first beam and a second beam, wherein said first beam is directed toward said image storage device, and wherein said first beam corresponds to said image; and  
 a light detector, wherein said second beam is directed toward said second light detector, and wherein said second beam corresponds to said image information.  
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said image storage device is a silver-based film.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said image storage device comprises a charge-coupled device coupled to a digital storage device or a CMOS chip.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said light detector is selected from a group consisting of a charge-coupled device and a CMOS chip.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image storage device is selected from a group consisting of photographic film and a charge-coupled device coupled to a digital storage device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wireless transceivers transmits and receives electromagnetic energy.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image display device is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said remote control unit removably attaches to said image recorder, and when said remote control unit is attached to said image recorder, said display device is on the back side of image recorder.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said image recorder further comprises a shutter for controlling the amount of light permitted to enter said image recorder and to be stored in said image storage device, and wherein said remote control unit further comprises a control panel, said panel comprising at least one control, which when activated generates said control instructions.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said at least one control comprises: 
 a preview control that when activated generates a preview instruction; and  
 a capture control that when activated generates a capture instruction.  
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said image recorder further comprises a zoom lens, and wherein said at least one control further comprises a zoom control.  
     
     
         17 . A method of capturing an image remotely using an image recording system, said system comprising: (1) an image recorder comprising an image storage device for recording images, and a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits image information and receives control instructions, and (2) a remote control unit comprising a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives image information and transmits said control instructions, and an image display device that can display said image information, said method comprising: 
 transmitting control instructions from said remote control transceiver to said image recorder transceiver;    receiving said image information transmitted by said image recorder transceiver at said remote control transceiver; and    displaying said image information on said display device.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said transmitting and receiving uses electromagnetic energy.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said image recorder further comprises a shutter for controlling the amount of light permitted to enter said image recorder and to be stored in said image storage device, and wherein said remote control unit further comprises a control panel, said panel comprising at least one control, which when activated generates said control instructions, said method further comprising activating said at least one control.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said at least one control comprises a preview control and a capture control, and wherein said activating comprises: 
 generating a preview instruction in response to a user activating said preview control before said transmitting; and  
 generating a capture instruction in response to a user activating said capture control after said displaying.  
 
     
     
         21 . A method of capturing an image remotely using an image recording system, said system comprising: (1) an image recorder comprising an image storage device for recording images, and a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits image information and receives control instructions, and (2) a remote control unit comprising a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives image information and transmits said control instructions, and an image display device that displays said image information, said method comprising: 
 receiving, by said image recorder transceiver, control instructions transmitted from said remote control transceiver; and    transmitting, by said image recorder transceiver, said image information to said remote control transceiver for display of said image information on said display device.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said transmitting and receiving uses electromagnetic energy.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said image recorder further comprises a shutter for controlling the amount of light permitted to enter said image recorder and to be stored in said image storage device, and wherein said remote control unit further comprises a control panel, said panel comprising at least one control, which when activated generates said control instructions, and wherein said at least one control comprises a preview control and a capture control, and wherein said receiving comprises: 
 receiving a preview instruction in response to a user activating said preview control, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said image information to said remote control unit in response to said receiving said preview instruction; and  
 receiving a capture instruction in response to a user activating said capture control.  
 
     
     
         24 . An image recorder for use with a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives image information and transmits control instructions, and an image display device that displays said image information, said image recorder comprising: 
 an image storage device for recording said image; and    a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits said image information and receives said control instructions.    
     
     
         25 . The image recorder of  claim 24  wherein said image storage device can store an image selected from a group consisting of a still image, a moving image, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The image recorder of  claim 25  wherein said image storage device is primarily for storing still images.  
     
     
         27 . The image recorder of  claim 26  wherein said image information either roughly corresponds to said image or accurately corresponds to said image.  
     
     
         28 . The image recorder of  claim 27  wherein said image recorder further comprises: 
 a first optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image; and  
 a second optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image information.  
 
     
     
         29 . The image recorder of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 a first optical input for receiving light corresponding to said image;  
 a beam splitter that divides said light into at least a first beam and a second beam, wherein said first beam is directed toward said image storage device, and wherein said first beam corresponds to said image; and  
 a light detector, wherein said second beam is directed toward said light detector, and wherein said second beam corresponds to said image information.  
 
     
     
         30 . The image recorder of  claim 24  further comprising a shutter for controlling the amount of light permitted to enter said image recorder and to be stored with said image storage device.  
     
     
         31 . A remote control unit for use with an image recorder comprising an image storage device for recording an image, and a wireless transceiver that wirelessly transmits image information and receives control instructions, said remote control unit comprising: 
 a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives said image information and transmits said control instructions; and    an image display device that displays said image information.